Hezbollah Threatens to Shut Down Beirut Airport Over Iranian Flight Ban

Hezbollah has escalated tensions in Lebanon by threatening to shut down Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport if Iranian planes continue to be barred from landing. A senior Hezbollah official declared in an interview with the Al-Manar network that the group would completely halt airport operations to support Iran. This threat comes amid a meeting between Lebanese President Michel Aoun and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Hezbollah official stated that while the group has exercised restraint so far, if the ban on Iranian flights persists, Hezbollah will take multiple "peaceful" measures, including preventing any plane from landing in Beirut and expelling all ambassadors from Lebanon. This escalation follows Hezbollah's consistent opposition to Lebanon's framework agreement and ongoing negotiations with Israel.

Lebanese Foreign Ministry sources confirmed to Saudi media that the government will not reverse its previous decisions regarding Iran, which are considered sovereign and security measures. The visa requirement for Iranian citizens was reinstated after incidents revealed the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guard operatives in Lebanon. The ban on Iranian flights to Beirut was established nearly two years ago, with the Israeli military warning Lebanese officials that it would not allow Iranian planes to land, even if it meant shutting down the airport.

This development highlights the ongoing struggle over Iranian influence in Lebanon and Hezbollah's role in opposing government policies that limit Tehran's reach in the country.